Assisted Dying

Please press play to listen to the audio of this question. Please note that the audio is provided in the language in which the senators spoke. Senators may speak either official language in the Senate Chamber. For the full text of the translated exchange please click here.

Hon. James S. Cowan (Leader of the Opposition):

Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate, and it is one again of a series of questions that we have received in response to our invitation to Canadians to ask questions on their behalf.

Today’s question comes from Mr. David Moscrop of Vancouver, British Columbia. His question is as follows:

The people of Canada overwhelmingly support the legalisation of assisted-dying; evidence from abroad suggests that this right could be extended to citizens in a safe, responsible way. The government, however, maintains that Canadians should not be granted the right to die. Given that a strong majority of Canadians disagree with the government’s position, and given that the right to die could be safely and responsibly established, how can the government maintain their opposition to assisted-dying?